People v DePalma
2012 NY Slip Op 07158 [99 AD3d 1116]
October 25, 2012
Appellate Division, Third Department
Published by New York State Law Reporting Bureau pursuant to Judiciary Law § 431.
As corrected through Wednesday, November 28, 2012


The People of the State of New York, Appellant,
v
Robert DePalma, Respondent.

[*1] David E. Woodin, Catskill, for appellant.

Terry J. Wilhelm, District Attorney, Catskill (Danielle D. McIntosh of counsel), for respondent.

Lahtinen, J. Appeal from a judgment of the County Court of Greene County (Pulver Jr., J.), rendered June 7, 2011, convicting defendant upon his plea of guilty of the crimes of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree and criminal sale of marihuana in the third degree.

In satisfaction of an 11-count indictment, defendant pleaded guilty to criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree and criminal sale of marihuana in the third degree. As part of the plea agreement, he executed a waiver of his right to appeal. Prior to sentencing, he moved to withdraw his plea, arguing that his counsel failed to accurately advise him regarding the possible sentence he might face if convicted following a trial. County Court denied the motion and defendant was subsequently sentenced to consecutive prison terms of six years and 1½ years, respectively. He now appeals, and we affirm.

Defendant contends that County Court improperly enhanced his bargained-for sentence by ordering that the two terms of imprisonment run consecutively rather than concurrently. Although this argument is not precluded by defendant's appeal waiver (see People v Nicholson, 50 AD3d 1397, 1398 [2008], lv denied 11 NY3d 834 [2008]), it is unpreserved for our review as the record before us indicates that he did not move to withdraw his plea based upon the potential for an enhanced sentence, nor did he object at sentencing or move thereafter to vacate the judgment of conviction (see People v Haynes, 14 AD3d 789, 790-791 [2005], lv denied 4 NY3d 831 [2005]). [*2]

Defendant further argues that his counsel was ineffective in that he failed to explore alternatives to prison or to adequately explain the plea agreement to defendant. To the extent that this argument survives defendant's appeal waiver and is preserved by his motion to withdraw his plea, it is not supported by the record. Defendant's claim that his sentence is excessive is foreclosed by his valid appeal waiver (see People v Small, 82 AD3d 1451, 1452 [2011], lv denied 17 NY3d 801 [2011]). His remaining contentions have been considered and found to be without merit.

Peters, P.J., Stein, Gary and Egan Jr., JJ., concur. Ordered that the judgment is affirmed.